Gang violence is an issue that grows larger by the day here in America. According to the National Youth Gang Survey, youth gangs are defined as having three or more members generally aged between twelve and twenty four years of age, sharing an identity typically liked to a name or symbol, members view themselves as a gang and are viewed by others as a gang, group has some permanence and organization, and the group is involved in an elevated level of criminal activity (National Institute of Justice). The gang problem in America is one of the largest threats to society. There have always been gangs but today they pose their greatest threat. Gang activity can range from simple graffiti to first degree murder. It seems that the gang related acts of violence reported on the news daily are getting more brutal now than ever. We as a country and as individual communities need to act now and employ anti-gang programs and strategies that will prevent our youth from throwing their lives away like they have been doing so frequently over the past decade.
Juveniles across the world join gangs for many different reasons. They join gangs because they feel a need for power, their friends are in a gang, they feel neglected, and others protect them in the gang. One problem leading to gang activity is there is no parental involvement in many of our juvenile's lives. Many people who join a gang live in single-parent households, have little contact with their fathers or mothers, and seek a sense of belonging. Many youths find this sense of belonging in gangs. Many gang members say that there gang is like a family and it gives them the sense of belonging and love that they always looked for. The friendships and the excitement of gang life, has caused a spike in gang membership in the United States. Many juveniles have joined gangs just to for the power and respect that comes along with it in their neighborhoods.